NERO, who was about to hand some documents to his father, suddenly felt annoyed.
He didn't know what happened to him, but he accidentally used some force when he placed the documents on the table. As a result, his father's office table broke into two. But as expected of the strongest man on the continent, the emperor didn't even flinch.
"Are you dissatisfied to be working with me on a weekend where you could have gone out with Hanna on a date?" his father asked calmly. "Let's use words, Nero. The palace might collapse if you act violently every time you throw a tantrum."
"It's not like that, Father. I'm not throwing a tantrum," Nero denied, frowning because he felt offended that his father treated him like a child who couldn't control his temper. "I just suddenly felt annoyed."
His father leaned against the back of the chair and crossed his arms over his chest. "Come to think of it, I feel the same. I should check on Mona and Neoma."
"Father hasn't heard from them yet?"
"We purposely avoided contact to make sure they won't be followed."
"Then… Father doesn't know how Dahlia is doing–"
"Stop," his father stopped him sternly. "Nero, you just told me a few days ago that you have nothing to do with the Black Witch anymore."
He couldn't refute what his father said.
Moreover, he also hated himself for acting that way.
Even though his brain knew that he should let go of Dahlia now, he couldn't understand why he was still worried about her.
[Am I really crazy?]
"I'll contact Mona later to check on them," his father said, his voice calmer now than it did earlier. Then his father changed the topic. "Trevor Kesser already left the palace, didn't he?"
Nero nodded his head slowly. "Yes, Father. Should I ask my people to track him down?"
"You don't have to," his father said. "I bet it wouldn't be easy even for my Paladins to track him down. He may be weaker now, but he's still a genius Sorcerer."
He just frowned at his father's words.
"Moreover, I have a feeling that he's headed to Neoma," his father added. "You heard what Trevor Kesser said earlier: he's now Neoma's Contractor."
He scoffed at what his father said. "And do you believe that demon bastard, Father?"
"Nero, I'll be honest with you– I trust Trevor Kesser more than I trust the current you."
That kind of offended him.
But it wasn't like his father was wrong.
Nero would admit that he didn't trust his immediate family, too. He was only sticking to his father because his father reclaimed his power as the emperor quite effectively. In short, he was treating his father like a colleague.
But, he would also admit that he felt safe with his immediate family even though he didn't show it.
[It's also true that I've been acting like a jerk towards them.]
Hence, he wasn't surprised when his father said he didn't trust him fully at the moment.
"Nero, get back to work," his father said in a scolding tone. "And give the academy a proper response soon. You don't have to drop out if they're the ones clinging to you as if their lives depended on it."
Ah, right.
The schoolmaster of the Royal Moon Academy wouldn't leave him alone despite his announcement that he would drop out.
"Yes, Father," Nero said, sighing. "I'll give Lord Salvatore a firm response soon."
***
OH.
AS EXPECTED, IT WASN'T A KISS.
To be honest, Trevor wasn't disappointed because, in the first place, he knew that Princess Neoma wouldn't kiss him.
[It was just my wishful thinking.]
Princess Neoma wouldn't kiss anyone without their consent, after all. Hence, if it was her intention, she would have said so from the beginning.
[My Moon Princess is cleansing the Impure Mana inside me.]
Trevor could feel Princess Neoma's warm breath entering his body through his mouth. Their lips weren't touching, but his lips were slightly parted as his Moon Princess squeeze his cheeks gently.
[This is the same technique that Princess Neoma would often call the "breathing technique" as a "premium air purifier." Yeah, my Moon Princess has seen so many anime series in her life.]
To be honest, he thought it wouldn't work.
After all, he knew that not even Princess Neoma could purify Impure Mana. But he was soon proved wrong.
[Hmm… I'm getting better?]
Ever since he was poisoned by Impure Mana, his body felt heavy.
But, right now, he could feel his body getting lighter by each passing moment.
Wow.
[Princess Neoma is really a genius.]
Trevor's mini celebration in his head was cut off when Princess Neoma suddenly stopped what she was doing, then coughed.
It didn't sound like an ordinary cough, though.
He opened his eyes and realized that he was correct.
Princess Neoma was covering her mouth with a hand as she coughed, blood trickling down the corner of her mouth.
[It's because of me…]
"It's not your fault," Princess Neoma said as if she could read the guilt on his face. "And I'm fine."
Trevor let out a sigh. "Princess Neoma, it's not fine. You've always been healthy since we were kids. But, recently, you've been coughing up blood often."
"It's just a little side-effect of using my breathing technique."
He was about to say that having a side effect after using a technique shouldn't make you cough up blood, but he stopped when he felt a huge change in his body.
[Oh?]
He said that he felt lighter earlier, but it was actually better than that.
The heavy Impure Mana that seemed to weigh his body down before suddenly moved inside his body like how blood flowed through his veins.
[It's… alive.]
The heavy Impure Mana that corrupted his body and soul was alive.
[And it's moving inside my body like ordinary Mana would.]
"How did this happen?" Trevor asked in disbelief, turning to Princess Neoma with a question in his eyes. "What did you learn this time, Princess Neoma?"
Of course, Princess Neoma looked smug while wiping the blood off of her mouth. "Apparently, I'm the successor of the Goddess of Life."
He almost shut his eyes tight, but he forced himself to calm down.
[Princess Neoma is the successor of the Goddess of Life, and the damned chef is the agent the God of Death is trying to recruit… why do the two of them always stand opposite of each other's side?]
Admittedly, Trevor hated Ruston "Ruto" Solfrid Stroganoff.
But he would also admit that it would be better to have the damned chef as an ally instead of an enemy.
Having said that, his resentment only lasted for a few seconds.
[It's okay. I'm here and I'm not going anywhere. Princess Neoma only needs me by her side anyway~]
In short, the damned chef could go to hell.
"I tried a little experiment earlier, and as expected of me, I managed to unalive the Impure Mana that I caught earlier," Princess Neoma said proudly. "But I'm not satisfied with the result. Because of my weakass body, I couldn't cleanse all the Impure Mana inside you in one go, Trevor. We have to do this again later."
"I don't mind, Princess Neoma."
"You sure look like you really don't mind."
He laughed because he was caught. "It wasn't like I was thinking of dirty thoughts, Princess Neoma. I wouldn't dare do that to you of all people."
"I know– that's why you're still alive."
He just laughed again, but he slowly turned serious. "I was just a little hopeful, Princess Neoma," he admitted shyly. "For a moment there, only for a few seconds, I thought you were going to kiss me."
"Would you like a kiss from me?"
Ah, he didn't like where this conversation was headed.
"Of course, that's my dream and my goal," Trevor admitted shamelessly. "But I would never want to get a pity kiss from you, Princess Neoma. I have pride, too."
"What do you mean by a "pity kiss?""
"It's obvious, my Moon Princess," he said, smiling while shaking his head. "You look like you're going to give me anything and everything I want at the moment, Princess Neoma. Is it because you feel indebted to me?"
Princess Neoma only kept her mouth shut, but the guilt in her beautiful ash-gray eyes was clear.
[See?]
"That's what I'm talking about, Princess Neoma," Trevor said, chuckling. "Please don't do this to me, my Moon Princess. I'm not your strongest soldier. If you continue acting like you're going to give me anything I asked, I might take advantage of you."
"I know you wouldn't do that."
"Then you're overestimating my patience, my Moon Princess," he said, brazenly grabbing Princess Neoma's hand.
To be honest, he was expecting a punch from his Moon Princess.
Fortunately, Princess Neoma allowed him to touch her hand even though he was late to ask permission.
[Princess Neoma already broke up with the damned chef, right?]
Then this much would be fine.
"My Moon Princess, from now on, I'll seduce you for real," Trevor declared bravely, placing Princess Neoma's hand on his cheek. "After almost dying, I realized life is too short for me to stay idle. Hence, I won't hold back anymore."
Princess Neoma rolled her eyes as she pulled her hand away from his face. "When did you ever hold back, you sly demon?"
Trevor's laugh echoed in the small cabin.
[Yep, I love this girl so much.]
***
"SO, LET'S hear it now," Neoma said after Trevor was done flirting with her. "You made a contract with the Ancient Devil bastard."
She was relieved that her breathing technique worked.
Trevor wasn't completely fine yet, but his life was now out of danger.
[We can proceed with the treatment slowly. I have to gain more stamina to quickly finish the treatment. Gosh, why is this body so frail recently?]
She wished she would stop coughing up blood every time she reached her limit.
"That, I did," Trevor said, opening his hand until the book that he was holding earlier materialized. At the same time, the monocle he wore before also appeared. "This is the book made from the skin of the Ancient Devil's father."
Neoma scrunched up her nose in disgust. "Don't touch things like that, Trevor."
"I have to," he said, laughing it off as usual. Even so, his remained serious. "Princess Neoma, let's make it official."
"Huh?"
"You as my master, me as your Contractor," Trevor said, the carefree smile on his face gone. "The Goddess of Truth broke her promise with you, and she was able to do that because you didn't make a contract with her. Verbal promises don't work on gods, after all. Hence, right now, the gods are looking for you."
"To make me clean their polluted domain?"
"Exactly. We can't stop the rumor from spreading anymore. Hence, this is the only option we have."
Neoma sighed, already expecting something like that to happen. "How do I make you my official Contractor, Trevor?"
"It's easy," Trevor said, grinning. "Let's make a blood pact, my Moon Princess."
***
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